Drones over gatwick..

Screeeech · 20 Dec 2018 at 17:59

robfosters said:
Do we, at any point, start blaming the Russians?

I already did further back

I initially thought it might just be a protest by environmentalists, but it doesn't fit the profile - each time they protest, they're screaming for airtime - making as much noise as possible, whoever is doing this is deathly quiet. However it seems too sophisticated and well planned to be just someone "making a bit of a mess" I have a hunch *something* bigger is behind it, whether it's Russia or someone else, trying to assess our mitigation technology for things like this.

Although, I'm more than willing to accept that it might just be someone causing chaos for fun, however - the "large industrial drones" which have been reported, make it difficult for me to believe this is just someone messing around because they're bored.

Mr Jack · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:05

What is the reason armed police haven't shot it down? Gatwick has plenty of armed police. Are they that hard to hit? Too risky to discharge weapons into the air? Some legal restriction? Pancake?

tracertong · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:05

BBC Bot training engaged........thinking...........thinking.........oh its those pesky russians again.

Jesus wept.

"andy" · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:10

Mr Jack said:
What is the reason armed police haven't shot it down? Gatwick has plenty of armed police. Are they that hard to hit? Too risky to discharge weapons into the air? Some legal restriction? Pancake?

They say they don't want stray bullets. Cant they harpoon it or something. Maybe A big spud cannon

Embarrassing that this hasn't been solved all day

labbby · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:10

tracertong said:
BBC Bot training engaged........thinking...........thinking.........oh its those pesky russians again.

Jesus wept.

Thing is if i was Russia i woud be like "we get blammed for everything so fudge it lets have a laugh" It's probably their goverments Christmas party and this is the party game

almoststew1990 · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:10

This is getting more unusual I feel. If it was kids messing around, would we expect "copy cats" to do it at other airports? They would have got bored by now I reckon, or would they stop and run away when they hear the ************* army is now involved?

If it was activists of some kind, they would have drawn attention to their cause by now.

If it was to prove some kind of point (about drones and licencing and airport emergency plans or whatever), I think they would stopped now too. The point has been made now.

I can't help but feel it's something more sinister as they're using "proper" drones. Is someone delaying a specific flight or a specific person from reaching somewhere? Holding up the maximum number of people in the airport as possible....?

*sigh* I better get my foil out the kitchen

Yadda · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:12

If it isn't Russia then it must be George Soros and/or Hilary Clinton.

dowie · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:22

Mr Jack said:
What is the reason armed police haven't shot it down? Gatwick has plenty of armed police. Are they that hard to hit? Too risky to discharge weapons into the air? Some legal restriction? Pancake?

Bullets don't just carry on on some trajectory into space. Unless you're firing at quite a high angle upwards, as in you're lucky enough that the drone happens to be more or less directly over your head, then they're likely going to pose a fair amount of risk in the location they land in.

Jayzon · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:23

hi all , what got me was the head of Gatwick came on tv and said “ there’s a drone on my airfield as we speak total rubbish if there was that thing would be easy to find especially a matrice drone witch it probably is running its own software max flight 30 mins max distance no more than two miles at most weather dictates battery life these conditions half the battery time , my money on they ditched it once they knew it was being followed
Probably in water ,

explicit4u · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:25

I’m completely baffled by this, there’s a police helicopter there that I’m sure has thermal. How are they struggling to follow it home and find the guy!?

/armchair cop

dowie · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:25

Jayzon said:
hi all , what got me was the head of Gatwick came on tv and said “ there’s a drone on my airfield as we speak total rubbish if there was that thing would be easy to find especially a matrice drone witch it probably is running its own software max flight 30 mins max distance no more than two miles at most weather dictates battery life these conditions half the battery time , my money on they ditched it once they knew it was being followed
Probably in water ,

????

The drone or drone(s) have appeared numerous times it seems, I suspect they're probably not the sort for which you need to charge the batteries after just 30 minutes or which have rather limited range.

Jayzon · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:29

Well im Bit of drone nerd and know for the weight and conditions they can’t get no more than 30 mins not possible tbh it’s had couple of flights and no one seen it since it’s ditched and he’s pooing his pants ...

200sols · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:29

explicit4u said:
I’m completely baffled by this, there’s a police helicopter there that I’m sure has thermal. How are they struggling to follow it home and find the guy!?

/armchair cop

They haven’t seen one since midday, unless they are holding back info.

Secret_Window · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:30

I wonder what the economic impact is from this.

Jayzon · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:30

I guarantee they won’t find him , army could have maybe ECM bubble surprised they didn’t ....

DB_SamX · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:31

Jayzon said:
hi all , what got me was the head of Gatwick came on tv and said “ there’s a drone on my airfield as we speak total rubbish if there was that thing would be easy to find especially a matrice drone witch it probably is running its own software max flight 30 mins max distance no more than two miles at most weather dictates battery life these conditions half the battery time , my money on they ditched it once they knew it was being followed
Probably in water ,

Welcome to the forums, but please use some punctuation so I can make sense of your words.

Jayzon · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:32

Fpv plane yes hours in the air but go online you find a drone civil or commercial that flys longer than 45 mins and that’s perfect conditions this shouldn’t of been hard to find my money on a matrice 800 drone

Jayzon · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:34

Soz is forgot punctuation yawn .... there’s always one .... if wrote here have a tenner you’d soon understand it

200sols · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:34

Jayzon said:
Soz is forgot punctuation yawn .... there’s always one .... if wrote here have a tenner you’d soon understand it

English darling?

Jayzon · 20 Dec 2018 at 18:35

Some of us are dyslexic apologies